Steven Wagner - Stevan Vagner, Podrum COLLEGIUM MELODIUM, World music museum in Belgrade, * ARMYDANCE *, EL SAFIR and * VITSAVEJA * present BELLYDANCE on Jimi Hendrix way, Bellydance is a much debated topic among belly dance enthusiasts, leading to many conflicting theories. The most popular theory is that it evolved from a religious dance. Some people believe that it descended from early Egyptian dances, or from the migration of Gypsies from India. Another popular theory is that belly dance began as a traditional birthing practice to help ease the pains of childbirth. Even more debated than the origin of belly dance is exactly what the dance form should be called. The term "belly dance" is believed to have come from a French term (danse du ventre) meaning "dance of the stomach. It is believed that belly dance first came to America in 1893 when a dancer known as "Little Egypt" performed at the Chicago World's Fair. Fascinated by the dance and the music, Americans became very interested in the exotic dances and rhythms of the orient. Feeling the approaching craze, Hollywood created glamorous, colorful costumes, popularizing an exotic dance of self-expression.
